AN: Can I get a WOOT WOOT!? Yes! No? Okay whatever...anyways, I just wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to all my lovely reviewers! I've gotten over 200 reviews now, which I honestly never thought possible! You guys are terrific, and thank you so much for all the continued support.
I have a previous promise to fulfil and a gift to give. My previous promise is two (yes, count 'em TWO) chapters! I feel so bad for being so slow on updating that I decided to give a double update. Now, my gift: not only are you getting two chapters, you're getting two LONG chapters! It's weird, the last two that I've written were incredibly long...so, I hope you enjoy. I realize both these chapters are relatively fluffy, but think of it this way: it's the calm before the storm...dun dun dun!
Anyways, keep rocking like all of you are, and keep reading and reviewing! Thanks again!
Disclaimer: Still not Stephenie Meyer. Still loving Robert Pattinson.
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Chapter Twenty-One: My Funny Valentine
Three weeks and three days later, we still found Liz's powers…interesting, to say the least. Although I was glad to see that she was so gifted, it wasn't exactly a fun evening when no one could touch me. It got worse when she had developed the sense of hearing, and while Alice and I were having a conversation one night, I was screaming at the top of my lungs, and she still could not hear me. I found that, after she developed this ability, it was much easier to just talk with her and ask her to control her gift. Half the time I felt like a crazy person, speaking to my unborn child who knew nothing of what I was saying, but Carlisle seemed to believe that Liz had an exceptionally developed brain function. So, although it was aggravating when people could not touch me or were deaf to me, I was pleased to hear that my child was so advanced.
One particular evening, Liz was being well behaved while I sat in Alice's salon-like bathroom. There were very few reasons why I would let Alice attack me with her makeup and hair products, and tonight was one of those special reasons: Valentine's Day. I personally hated the holiday, but I guess Edward had something special planned for us. Alice insisted that I be done up for the event, and since I had no motivation to do it myself, I had given her permission to attack.
I was sitting on her pink, fluffy stool in the bathroom when she pulled a silver brush through my hair.
"Ouch!" I glared at my tiny sister through the mirror, as a sheepish look crossed her face.
"Sorry…sometimes it's hard to judge how much pressure I need with your hair. It's so tangled!"
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, letting them rest against my bump. This was ridiculous…I felt like Alice was playing dress up with a whale. As she combed my hair through and twisted random locks, I started to think of ways to back out of this…maybe if I just pretended to be sick…
"Uh-uh, I know what you're planning. You're going tonight, no complaints," Alice said sternly as she concentrated harder on my hair.
I let out a sigh and resigned myself. Well, whatever was happening tonight must have been special, because Edward knew how I hated going out anymore.
"You could at least tell me where we're going," I grumbled.
A bright grin spread across Alice's face. "I could…and I would say, but I'd have to kill you, but I think it would be Edward that would kill me, and I'd rather not die tonight. I mean, someone has got to get you to looking beautiful for the evening!"
I snorted, but didn't press the matter. This family was good at keeping their secrets, and tonight I just didn't have the energy to press the matter. After Alice slid the last bobby pin in my hair, I examined myself in the mirror.
My face had swollen some, but there was an odd glow to my skin. I still was pale as ever—I nearly fit in with the rest of the family, while still being alive—but there was something different about me. I arched my eyebrows at my reflection, as I turned my head from side to side to get a better look at Alice's hair masterpiece.
"I must admit, Alice, the hair does something special."
She placed both her slim hands on my shoulders and leaned forward to where our eyes were at the same level. "Bella, it's not the hair. You look radiant," she whispered sweetly.
Radiant…interesting choice in words. These last couple of weeks I had felt like someone had pumped me full of air like a balloon and I could float away at any moment. But tonight, sitting in this beautiful, sleek bathroom, with my hair in pretty and intricate twists and coils, I could almost see what Alice was talking about. There was this odd flush to me, and even though I was bloated in every part of my body, I thought I looked…happy. A subconscious smile started to spread across my lips, which only grew bigger when I saw that Edward was standing in the bathroom doorway.
He leaned up against the doorframe, his eyes nearly burning under the bathroom light. He wore a deep, royal blue shirt and a sharp black jacket with matching slacks, looking like a male model. His top two buttons were undone, which added something sensual to his appearance…the gorgeous, crooked grin only added to that idea. His hair was its usual wild self, and his skin looked like pure marble, especially compared to his stark blue shirt.
Alice quietly slipped out of the bathroom, while Edward quickly took her former spot. "She's right, you know. You look radiant."
The smile was still on my face as I looked at him through the mirror. "I could definitely say the same for you."
I was still in the robe that I had been wearing before I put on my dress for the evening. He gently wrapped his hands around my arms and, while slowly tugging at the arm of my robe to expose my skin, leaned forward to leave a kiss on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and let my head fall backwards as he began to kiss a trail up from my shoulder to my neck, to my jaw line.
"Bella," Edward whispered against my skin. Goosebumps sprang up over my arms when his icy cold breath swept across me.
"Mmm…"
"You know, over these last couple of weeks—months even—something amazing has happened to you."
"Oh yeah? Like what?" I asked nearly incoherent, as I was entranced by the contact of Edward's cold lips against me.
"Well," he began as he switched to my other shoulder, repeating the same patterns as he did on the other, "it's like you…you're luminescent or something. I don't know how to describe it…"
I could help but giggle to myself. "I had noticed a change, too."
"It's like someone has lit a fire inside of you…it's mesmerizing," he breathed as I felt his stone fingers lightly breeze across the back of my neck, tracing my hairline.
I heard someone clear their throat behind us, but I couldn't open my eyes. I felt as if I was frozen there in place, unable to move because of the spell my captivating husband put me under. I felt Edward draw back away from me to see who it was.
"Sorry…I hate to bust this up, but…" Alice faded off. I reluctantly opened my eyes to glance through the mirror at Alice.
"But what?" I asked, encouraging her to continue.
"Nothing, love," Edward interrupted. He left a single kiss against my neck, as he started to walk out of the bathroom. I looked between him and Alice, and the expressions they had told me they were having a private, mental conversation. More secrets, I thought to myself, wishing the evening would just hurry up and be done with so I could just be with Edward. I loved being with him, obviously, but I felt like it was something different from when we were out in public than when we were together privately.
Edward had walked out of the room and Alice was once again, at my side. "Sorry, but time is of the essence!"
"Right," I groused. I sat there quietly and without complaint, per Alice's request, as she finished with my makeup. She backed away from me to give me a chance to examine the finished product. I was surprised at what I saw—she went relatively light on the makeup, only adding definition to my features, rather than cover them up. Once again, I noticed the sudden glow to my face…must be a pregnancy thing.
"Wow…thank you, Alice. You did a great job," I thanked enthusiastically.
"You gave me a great face to work with! Now you just need to put on the dress…then you can have fun with the husband!" She flitted her arms towards the door as I slowly hurled myself from the stool.
When I walked into the bedroom, I saw a deep, navy blue halter dress with crystal rings around the straps. It looked short—with my belly, it probably only hit me around mid-calf—but it looked beautiful. I wasn't one for fashion, and since I had begun wearing maternity clothes, I was even less interested than before. But this dress, tonight, looked incredible.
"Alice…this is amazing! Thank you!" I gently picked up the dress, examining it closer. The material was soft and flowed easily.
"Here, let me help you put it on. I wouldn't want you to mess up your makeup or hair…." She unzipped the dress as I took off my robe, and she held it over my head as it swiftly slid down my body. I was pleasantly surprised when the dress didn't get stuck on my belly. Alice quickly zipped it back up and spun me around to look in the full-length mirror.
"Bella…you look fantastic," Alice beamed.
"For once, I must admit—I agree with you. You did an incredible job, Alice." I turned around to look her directly in the eyes. "You did an incredible job at dressing the whale," I joked with a huge grin across my face.
She only rolled her eyes and quickly flitted away. "Stay right there!" she yelled behind her before she left the room.
I turned back around to look at myself one more time in the mirror. My hands instinctually went to my belly, caressing my round stomach. Every now and then Liz would give a little kick, but I could tell she was probably going to be sleeping for a while. My skin had taken on a new shade since I had become pregnant—at first I thought it was shades of green, from all the morning sickness, but the farther along I became, a different skin tone settled over me. As I looked at my reflection I realized what it was: pregnancy really fit me.
It was ironic, especially since I had wanted to avoid being a mother. I felt like I had already raised a kid in Renée, and I didn't necessarily want to go through it again. Also, I knew motherhood was one of those things I would have to sacrifice to be with the one I loved, and I was more than willing to give it up. But here I was, a little over 28 weeks along, and glowing. I realized I loved being pregnant, even with all the little quirks that have come along. I loved being pregnant, and what I loved even more was knowing that after I was pregnant, I was going to be a mother. Edward and I were going to parents—that thought alone could brighten any sad day of mine.
"I'm back," Alice chimed as she floated back into the bedroom. She had a pair of shoes in one hand and something shiny in another.
"What's that?"
She extended her hand out and in her palm rested two deep sapphire blue earrings. They were drop earrings, with diamonds at the post and a round sapphire hanging off of a short string of smaller diamonds. They were exquisite—the way the light bounced off of the precious gems reminded me of the way sunlight bounced off of Edward's exposed skin.
"Alice," I breathed. I was taken aback by the jewelry, especially since I hadn't expected such a beautiful gift.
"Alice was right. They go perfectly with the dress." I quickly spun around to face the door, shocked by the voice. Esme stood in the doorframe, a soft smile across her gentle lips. She took a step towards me, extending her hand out towards Alice for the earrings. "They were mine, when I was…alive. One of the few nice items I had growing up. I had been meaning to give them to you for awhile now, but I was waiting for the right time."
"Esme…wow," I managed to stumble out. She swiftly but carefully hooked the earrings into my holes. I could feel the stunning jewels swing back and forth as I moved my head.
"Perfect," Esme breathed. She rested her cold hands on either side of my face, cupping my cheeks softly. Her eyes were a crystal clear gold, and I could practically see the love she held flow out of her eyes and into my heart.
"Thank you, Esme. It was…unexpected. But amazing," I grinned. She leaned forward and kissed my forehead before dropping her hands and stepping back.
"You two will be late if we spend any more time in here," she warned, changing the subject.
I spun around and Alice was already placing my shoes on the ground. Thankfully, she had gotten me flats—they were delicate looking, and bright silver. They would match perfectly with my new earrings.
"All set!" Alice chimed once I slid my swollen feet into the shoes. We all walked out of Alice's room to go downstairs. As I carefully navigated the stairwell, I could already feel Edward's eyes on me with every step I took. Once I reached the bottom, he only stood there with an awe-struck expression.
"Incredible," he whispered as I slid my arm around his.
"Shall we?"
"Of course, love." Edward paused and turned to Esme and Alice. "Ladies…thank you. My wife looks…bewitching." A crooked grin sprung up on Edward's lips, but before anything more could be said he was leading us out of the house.
We got into the car and drove off into the night, but I was still completely unaware as to where we were going. I was lucky that it was so dark outside—I was afraid if I could see how fast we were going, I would have probably gotten sick. The ride was quiet, with just sparse conversation every now and then between us. I loved how we had this kind of relationship; there were no awkward silences with us. We were comfortable just being with each other, and we never felt like we had to speak just to speak.
After about ten minutes, I could tell we were nearing Port Angeles. I saw the faint lights off in the distance ahead of us, and this boosted my curiosity.
"So, Edward…where are we going? It's killing me not knowing."
He only smiled and shook his head. "Give it a few minutes. We're almost there."
I sighed but didn't press it any farther. Liz had become relatively still, and I was thankful for that. Sometimes the kicking was distracting.
We drove into the town, and in a few moments we had pulled up in front of a familiar restaurant. When I glanced outside the window and saw where we were, I couldn't help but giggle.
"Look familiar?" Edward teased. Before I could respond, Edward was out of the vehicle and at my door, waiting for me to get out. He helped me up, and tipped the valet when he had taken Edward's keys. We walked inside the cozy restaurant, and were greeted by another familiarity.
"Reservation for Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, please," Edward cooed to the hostess. I hated it when he did that. Edward infatuated everyone normally, but when he added that extra velvet to his voice…there was no hope for us mere mortals.
"Uh, yes…welcome, um, back to La Bella Italia," the hostess stuttered. She grabbed two menus and turned her back to us. "Follow me."
As we headed back, I smiled to myself. So many incredible things had changed since I had been here. The hostess led us back to the same private booth in the back that Edward and I had sat in so long ago.
We sat down as she placed the menus in front of us. "Your, um, waitress will be here…soon," she mumbled as she walked away.
Edward didn't bother opening the menu, but instead stared ahead at me with a sheepish grin.
"Clever," I jested. He extended his hand out across the table to grab mine, and a sudden memory sprung to mind. I remembered the first time being here…he was so scared for me to touch him. Now, he was reaching for me. I moved my hand over his as we laced fingers.
"I thought it was appropriate," he responded, still with an artful smile.
"Hi, wel—what…huh?" I glanced up and saw that same waitress from our first dining experience. She looked exactly the same, only this time shocked—she must have recognized us.
I glanced evilly back at Edward, who only continued to stare at me. I turned back to the waitress, who continued to gape at us both. "Hello," I said, trying to focus the waitress.
Her eyes snapped towards mine, and an odd expression crossed her face. "Have you been here before?"
"Oh yes, awhile ago. Before we were married, isn't that right, love?" Edward asked, smooth as always. I could tell what he was doing, and I couldn't help but want to join in.
"Yes, that's right," I responded as I moved my left hand to the table to rest it on top of our already entangled hands. I made sure the light hit my wedding ring.
The waitress stood there for a few moments, flabbergasted. She hastily whipped out her notepad. "What can I get you this evening?" she asked. There was something odd in her voice—resignation, perhaps?
"Coke, for me."
"Make that two," Edward added with a grin. I only shook my head. The waitress hurried away from our table and into the kitchen, all while Edward continued to stare at me.
"You're horrible."
"Whatever do you mean?" Edward feigned ignorance.
"Yeah, whatever. The poor lady…first you dazzle her, then you rub it in her face that you're taken."
"I'd rub it in anyone's face that I was taken. Everyone should know."
I grinned at his response, but I couldn't help but notice a change within me. Even right up to the wedding, I had been so scared of getting married young—I was afraid of what other people would think. Now that I was actually married to the love of my life, I realized it didn't matter. He was right—everyone should know.
The waitress brought back the Cokes, and asked for our order.
"What did I get the last time, Edward?"
"Mushroom ravioli."
"Oh yes, I'll have that, please," I said to the waitress as I handed her the menu. She looked sadly over at Edward.
"And for you?"
"Nothing for me, please." He handed her the menu as well, but this time the waitress didn't argue. She sulked back to the kitchen, leaving us to ourselves.
"Thank you."
"For what, love?"
I surveyed the restaurant. It hadn't changed at all since the last time we were here; the same warm atmosphere drew me in and enveloped me.
"For everything. For bringing me here on Valentine's Day; for being my husband; for Lizzie…for everything."
"Well, there was nowhere else I wanted to take you for Valentine's Day. And I should thank you for allowing me to be your husband. And as for Lizzie…well, you had just as much input in that as I did."
I chuckled as Edward moved my hand to his lips. He gently kissed the top of my hand, his ice-cold lips sending sparks through my whole body. "Speaking of Elizabeth," he began as he sat my hand back down, "how's she doing tonight?"
"Very well behaved. I think she's asleep," I added.
"Mmm, that's good. I just worry sometimes…."
"Sometimes?" I asked incredulously.
Edward rolled his eyes. "Okay, I worry a lot. We'll leave it at that. I just want to make sure both of you are safe and happy."
"Edward. Are you planning on leaving any time soon?"
A sudden dark expression crossed his face as he considered my question. His eyebrows puckered together. "Absolutely not," he said firmly.
I smiled in response. "Then Liz and I will be absolutely safe and happy, as long as you're here and we're all together."
Edward was suddenly quiet as he still held the same expression. "Bella," he began, quieter this time, "please don't ever think I'm going to leave again."
"I know you won't. I don't doubt it for a second."
He sighed as he continued to gently rub his thumb on the back of my hand. His eyes only looked down at our hands or at the table…he was obviously upset at my question.
"What happened to the smile?" I leaned my head forward and down, trying to make eye contact with him.
He lifted his eyes up to meet mine. A slow, but beautiful, smile spread.
"That's better."
"Here you go." The waitress stood at our table, my food in her hand. She placed the plate in front of me, and the heat from the ravioli was visible. My mouth watered at the meal; I hadn't realized how hungry I was. I instantly started to dig in, while Edward watched me.
"Sorry," Edward spoke up after the waitress disappeared.
"For what?" I asked with my mouth stuffed with food.
He chuckled lightly. "For being a downer. I hope I didn't ruin the evening."
I rolled my eyes as I swallowed my mouthful. "Edward, you didn't ruin the evening."
"Good, because I have a little surprise for you after we're done here."
I eyed him suspiciously. "…Like what, exactly?"
He smiled wide, his teeth glinting from the light. "That's for me to know and for you to find out."
I shook my head. "I thought we were past evasiveness," I muttered as I stuffed my mouth once again.
I ate the meal quickly, but was completely full by the time the food was gone. I ate every bit of it, and drank both Cokes, but I was happy. With my stomach full, my baby quietly asleep in my belly, and my gorgeous husband at my side, I couldn't have asked for a better evening.
When we left the restaurant, we got back into the car and headed back in the direction of the house. I was still curious as to where the rest of the night would lead, but I didn't pester Edward. I was just enjoying our time together.
After awhile Edward took a different turn, and I was lost for a few minutes. Soon, however, I figured out where we were headed. Edward pulled the car over after driving down a beaten path a short distance. He helped me out of the car, but quickly went to the trunk. I soon saw he pulled out a think blanket, in which he wrapped me up. I was thankful for the blanket—after all, it was February. He silently picked me up in his arms and began running to our familiar meadow.
As we drew nearer, I saw a strange glow coming from where I knew the meadow was ahead of us. Once we flew into the clearing, I realized what the glow was: thousands of clear, twinkling lights were wrapped around the trees surrounding our meadow, giving the place a surreal feel. As Edward gently put me down, my mouth fell open. In the center of the meadow, there was a giant…bed?
"Edward, what's furniture doing out in the middle of the woods?" I asked as I approached the bed. It was similar to the bed at home, but the bedding was different. A thick white comforter covered the bed, while six fluffy pillows were piled up at the head. I let my fingers drag across the comforter, as the softness of the material made me want to curl up right then.
"Well, I knew that you couldn't just lay on the ground anymore, so I thought a bed might be more comfortable."
I turned to face Edward, and all my breath escaped my body. He was standing behind the headboard, his hands gently wrapped over the top of the frame. The lights surrounding the meadow sparkled, which threw interesting and alluring shadows across his pale face. The soft light made almost a halo effect around his body, which was definitely fitting; after all, he was my angel. A gentle smile was on his lips, but his eyes said so much more. They looked like a fire was set off deep inside his eyes, and the flames flickered and flared. The brilliance of the string lights surrounding us bounced off his amber eyes, which only added to the flames found in his bottomless gaze.
"Edward," I whispered. He moved deftly to my side and pulled the comforter and sheets down.
"Here," he said as he tenderly lifted me onto the bed. My whole body sunk down into the mattress, and I could feel all the pressure in my body easing ever so slightly. He slipped off my shoes and pulled the thick sheets up over my body. Like lightening, he was on the other side of the bed, lying down next to me on top of the covers.
The bedding surprised me. "Edward…it's really warm!"
He let out a throaty chuckle. "Heated mattress pad and blankets," he explained. He nodded over to a generator at the edge of the meadow.
I pulled the blankets up further over my shoulder, letting myself sink deeper into the luxurious bed. Edward slid his arm under my head, pulling me close to his chest. I noticed he had kicked off his shoes and had taken off his jacket. His sleeves were even rolled up at this point.
"Hmm…do you ever get tired of wearing so many clothes?"
"Only when I'm around you…they kind of hinder important things sometimes," he purred into my ear as he kissed my jaw line. I smiled as I buried myself further into his body.
"That's not what I meant, silly. I mean, it's not like you need a jacket or anything like that…and I know it's just for appearances, but still…it's got to be frustrating sometimes."
Edward kissed my temple before responding. "I guess I don't pay attention to it. It's not like our body temperature changes either way. I could be wearing every piece of clothing I own or I could be wearing nothing at all, and I wouldn't feel any different."
I smiled as I kissed the base of his throat. "I prefer the 'nothing at all' scenario, personally…."
"Oh I know you do," he cooed. His lips found mine and pressed together softly at first. Our pace picked up quickly, however, and soon my hand was tangled in his hair as his hand moved up and down my arm.
Soon I had goose bumps covering my exposed skin. He pulled away, examining my arm. "You're cold," he noted.
"Just my arm. These blankets are really warm, actually."
Edward mumbled something, kissed my forehead and laid back into the bed. We both stared up at the nighttime sky, the beauty of the sky reflecting the beauty of the whole evening with Edward. I smiled to myself at how wonderful the evening had gone, even though I hadn't exactly been looking forward to it.
Suddenly, Edward's phone rang. He answered it before it rang a second time. "Hello?"
I looked up at him while he listened to whoever was on the other line. He was silent while the person spoke, sighing every now and then.
"Alice, whatever you're planning—" but his sister cut him off. I rolled my eyes, knowing something was up—something I probably wasn't going to like.
"Fine. But I don't like this," he warned. Oh no…that really didn't sound good. I knew it couldn't be anything serious, because he wasn't acting alarmed or anything, but I couldn't help but worry.
He snapped the phone shut and stuffed it back into his pants pocket. He eyed me, but didn't say anything.
"Well, what is it?"
"Apparently, we've been banished to a hotel for the evening. Alice is forbidding us to come home."
I raised myself up on to my elbow. "What?"
He waved his hand, brushing aside my worries. "I don't know…she's up to something. It's nothing bad—or at least I don't think it's nothing bad…although with Alice, you can never tell."
"Ugh," I grumbled as I fell back against the bed. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in the woodsy smell of the forest.
"C'mon," Edward groaned as he sat up in the bed. "We should probably get you into somewhere actually heated. This can't be good for you to be out in the cold…."
I moved to throw the blankets off of me, and Edward was already at my side helping me up and out of the bed. We left the bed in the meadow, and I figured he would be out there at some point to take it back to wherever its new home would be. He carried me to the car and we headed back to Port Angeles.
My eyes felt heavy on the drive back, and I could tell my evening was definitely drawing to an end. I drowsily got out of the vehicle once we reached the hotel, and was only partially aware of Edward checking us in. Apparently, Alice had already made reservations for us that evening, and she was sure to reserve the nicest room in the entire hotel.
By the time we got to the elevator, it hit me. "Hey!" I said, perking up a bit. "We don't have any of our clothes or anything. What are we going to do?"
Edward, whose arm was wrapped around my shoulder and holding me close, only shrugged. "I can probably go get us something real quickly, once we get up to the room."
I let my head fall against his chest. "I guess…I just wish I knew what this was all about."
"We'll find out soon enough."
The rest of the elevator ride was silent, and once we reached our floor Edward had offered to carry me to the room. I agreed, only because I was so tired I felt like I could barely walk. This was pretty much how it was every evening—a certain time hit, and my whole body just shut down for the night.
He carried me to our room, and when we walked in Edward chuckled. I lazily opened my eyes to look around as he set me down. "Looks like we don't have to worry about that," he said under his breath.
I saw in the open closet, a suitcase with clothes for the both of us. I smiled, glad to know that Alice had at least taken care of us during the inconvenience. Edward pulled out my nightclothes and helped me out of the soft evening dress. I let my hair down as Edward gently removed the earrings.
Once I was comfortably in bed, Edward took off his shirt and put on more comfortable pants. He was on top of the covers as I buried myself deep within.
"Mmm…sorry I'm so out of it."
"Don't be sorry, Bella. You need rest." He pulled the blankets higher up and over my shoulders. His cold lips pressed against the top of my head as he spoke. "Go to sleep, love. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," I sleepily mumbled, already starting to doze off completely.
I didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow, but then I didn't care. I had a wonderful night with Edward, and I was happy—truly, without a doubt, completely happy. It was an odd feeling to experience, especially since it felt as if we only ever struggled and fought to keep everyone together and alive. Happiness…it was a nice break from the fear of losing each other.